Coal-distillation retort



A. ROBERTS. COAL DISTILLATION RETORT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15, I916- RENEVIED ,FEB- 13.1920- 1,408,640.

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A; ROBERTS.

' COAL DISTILLATION HETORT.

APPLICATION FAILED SEPT. 15. 1916- RENEWED FEB. 13.1920.

1,408,640. Patentedmar. 7,1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ill/61%)} A. ROBERTS.

COAL DISTILLATION RETORT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15, 1916. RENEWED FEB. 13,1920.

1,408,640, Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 56 59 ll/m A. ROBERTS.

COAL DISTILLATION REIORT. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15, 19l6- RENEWED FEB. 13,1920.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

V 4SHEET3SHEET 4.

srarns TENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR ROBERTS, or EVANS'I'ON, ILICINOIS, AssIeNon To AMERICAN ooKE & CHEMICAL COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or MAINE.

COAL-DISTILLATION RETORT.

Specification bf Letters Patent. t t 7,

Application filed September ,15, 1916, Serial No. 12(),351. Renewed February 13, 1920. x Serial No. 358,432. I

disclosed relate particularly tothe construe-- tion of so-called vertical retor ts working on the continuous process principle.- It Wlll, however, be apparent that certain of the features of invention are not limited to use in connection with vertical retorts, nor are the said features limited to use in connectlon with continuous process retorts. Inasmuch, however, as numerous of the features herein disclosed are particularly adapted for use in connection with contlnuous process vertical retorts, I have found it convenient to illustrate and describe said features as used in connection with this type of retort.

In continuous process vertical retorts,'the

raw material, usually in the form of coal, although not necessarily coal, is fed into the top portion of the retort, the coked material being delivered from the bottom portion of the retort. As the coke or finished product is Withdrawn from the lower portion of the-retort, the coal or other material is fed in at the top, and works-its way downwardly through the height of the retort, the time necessary to reach tlie bottom portion of the retort being suitable for the complete prose-.

cution of the carbonizing action desired-- The duration of the carbonizing action may be determined or regulated. by the rate of travel of the material from top to bottom, and by the distance traversed through the carbonizing chamber. i

As the material enters the upper portion of the carbonizing chamber, it is quite cold, and its temperature must be increased to a maximum temperature depending upon the ultimate carbonizing action ,desired. This will be the temperature of the coke at the time the carbonizing process is substantially completed. The coke-at this stage will be red-hot or at any rate have an extremely high temperature, and before it can be discharged into the atmosphere it must be cooled, either by a quenching operation or in any other manner, becausethe red-hot coke were to be brought into contact with the oxygen of the air, combustion would immediately commence, and there would be a very serious loss of fixed carbon and an increase in the percentage of ash. Where the entire cooling of the coke is accomplished by a quenching operation, it is very evident that a serious loss of heat units is occasloned, because each pound of the red-hot coke will contain a large number of heat units.

One of the objects of the present invention .ing of the walls, and thus economizing in the operation of the retort.

Another feature ofthe invention has to do with a construction of oven whereby a substantial port-ion, or for that matter by far the greater portion of the heat units of the coked material may be recovered from said material for useful application in the carrying forward of the carbonizing action within the retort, or other retorts. More particularly this feature of the invention has to do with theprovision of a construction whereby all or a portion of the waste heat contained in the carbonized or coked material may be used for the preheating of one of the constituent gases used in the heating of the walls of the oven. F or example, thesaid waste heat may be used for the preheating of the air which goes to the burners.

I Another feature of the invention has to do with the construction of the heating Walls themselves, and in this connection it is desired to provide a heating wall which Will very efficiently and efl'ectively transfer the heat from the hot gases into -the heating walls. In -Le'tters Patent of the United States, No. 1,132,685, which was issued to me March 23, 1915, for improvements in coke ovens, I have disclosed a construction certain features of the method of heat transference above referred to. lln this present application, I have disclosed an improved form of notched block for use in the construction of the walls to thus still further improve the heat transference. @ther features of the invention have to do with the provision of improved means for delivering the coal or other raw material into the carbonizing chambers, and improved means for removing the colred or carbonized ma terial from the carbonizing chambers.

Dther objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a vertical cross section through a carbonizing chamber with its heating walls, including the contiguous heat ing walls of the two adjacent carbonizing chambers of the bench;

Fig. 2 shows a section similar to Fig. 1, with the exception that it is on larger scale;

Fig. 3 shows a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4. shows a section taken on the line l4r of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 shows a horizontal section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3, looking in the -direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 shows on enlarged scale a fragmentary horizontal section through a portion of a heating wall, including the improved notched bloclr construction herein disclosed Fig. 7 shows a section talren on the line 77 of Fig. 6, loolring in the direction of the arrows Fig. 8 shows a vertical fragmentary section taken on the line 3-8 of Fig. 7, looking 55- in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 shows in plan view one of the blocks of the form herein disclosed ,"i i Fig. 10 shows a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 shows a section taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10, loolring in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the three adjacent carbonizing chambers are designated by the numerals 12, 13, and 1a. The upper rnoaeto portion 15 of each chamber is narrower than its lower portion 16, so that, as the coking or'carbonizing material descends and as it swells or expands, there will always be provided sufiicient space .to properly accommodate the material without jamming, and 7 without the exertion of undue pressure on the walls.

Each carbonizing chamber is provided with heating walls designated in their entirety bythe numerals 17 and 18. As shown by reference particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, these heating walls are of a width depending upon the width of the carbonizing chamber. Reference to Fig. 5 shows that while the carboniaing chambers are relatively narrow, still they are of considerable width so as to provide the desired cross sectional area. Reference to Fig. l will, furthermore, disclose that the carbonizing chambers are of greater width at the bottom than at the top so as to still. further assist in securing a proper travel of the material undergoing treatment.

.l ibove each. carboniaing chamber is provided a hopper 19 for the accommodation of the coal, and chute 20 leads downwardly from the hopper to the upper end 15 of the carbonizing chamber. lt will be observed from Fig. 1 ,in particular that each hopper 12 with its chute 20 is offset to one side of the center line of the carbonizing chamber, this offsetting being accomplished by an intermediate casting or the lilre 21. This olfsetting-permits of the provision of one or more observation or manipulation holes 22 directly above and in line with the center line of the carbonizing chamber, through which holes the action within the carbomz ing chamber may be observed, and through which holes rods or the like may be inserted for stirring up or adjusting the coal as it is delivered into the upper end of the carbonizing chamber. These holes will normally be closed by plugs 23, as shown in Figs. 1 and l.

lln order to control the delivery of coal into the carbonizing chamber, and for the prevention of a loss of distillate gas from i the carbonizing chamber during its normal operation, l have shown a rotary valve 24 in each of the chutes 20. This rotary valve includesacasing'of circular cross section within which rotates a cylindrical valve member. This cylindrical valve memberis provided with oppositely disposed valve openings 25 and 26, so that, upon turning the valve member through 90. degrees, the

chute will be placed in connection with the hopper 19 or will be completely isolated therefrom. The cylindrical valve member is provided with a sidewise extending shaft 27 having a pulley 28 over which may be passed a chain 29 for the convenient manipulation of the device.

The lower portion 16 of each carbonizing chamber communicates with a discharge member 30, the construction of which is shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Each of these discharge members has a chute 31, the lower surface of which curves to one side, so that the coked material delivered downwardly from the carbonizing chamber will be deflected over and into contact with a rotating pick or breaker 32. This pick or breaker includes a shaft 33 having mounted thereon a series of picks 34 in sets, the picks of the different sets being consecutively mounted on the shaft at slightly different angular positions, so that the pick points will bear a spiral relationship with respect to the shaft as the observer moves his eye alongthe shaft from one end to the other thereof. The shaft 33 may be rotated in any convenient manner as by means of a pulley By the use of the construction thus disclosed, the picking or breaking operation will proceed consecutively at different portions of the carbonizing mass, instead of simultaneously at all portions thereof, thus making it easier to carry forward the breaking operation, inasmuch as the breaking force will at each instant be limited to some particular portion of the carbonizing mass.

The lower end 36 of the chute is tapered in size and terminates in the formof a spoutp Beneath this spout is swingingly mounted a valve member 37, the same swinging on a horizontal axis 38. This Valve member is of segmental formation, its end portions being closed by the end plates 39 and 40. The valve member normal y stands in the lowered position shown in Fig. 1, but it may be swung to one side by the use of a handle 41 when it is desired to discharge the coke. lVhen the valve member stands in the closed position, it may be filled with water, if desired, for the purpose of providing a water seal to thereby prevent the entrance of air into the carbonizing chamber, or the wastage of distillate gas from said chamber.

The distillate gases are discharged from the carbonizingchamber through the ports 42 and 43 located near the upper portion of the carbonizing chamber, as shown in Fig. 4. Each of these ports communicates with an angular casting 44, by means of which the gases are delivered upwardly to the connections 45. From said connections the gases find their way to the hydraulic mains 46. or to any other suitable discharge pipes. The connections 44 may be easily cleaned by the insertion of rods or the like through their end portions 47, which portions are normally closed by the caps 48.

I will now explain in detail the construction of the heating walls herein disclosed. The carbonizing action commences in the upper portion of the carhonizing chamber and terminates substantially at the point indicated by the numeral 49 in Fig. 1. As the material descends below the point 49, it is desirable to coolthe same, so that by the time it reaches the picks or breakers, it will be relatively cool. On the other hand, the heating walls just above the point 49 should have a maximum temperature sufficient to complete the carbonizing action and distill the volatile constituents to the extent de sired by the operator. I have, therefore, shown a construction of heating wall in which the temperature may be successively increased in its different portions, being maximum substantially at the point 49, and by means of which the material descending below the point 49 may be cooled, the heat thus given off being effectively used for the preheating of the air.

For this purpose, I divide the heating walls between the points 15 and 49 into a series of zones, the temperature of each zone being regulated to the desired point. In the particular construction there are three of these zones numbered, respectively, 50, 51, and 52, although manifestly a greater or less number of zones may be used as desired. Each zone is provided with a meshwork of impingement passages, or with any other suitable form of heating passages, so that the heating gases traversing the said zone will eflectively transfer heat to the wall. As previously explained these heating walls are shown particularly as operating on-the impingement principle, but manifestly as far as the feature of division into different; zones of different temperature is concerned any other suitable form of heating wall might be adopted.

The zones thus described are shown as being divided from each other by partitions 53 and 54, the partition which delimits the lower edge of the zone 52 being substantially at the point 49. I

Each of the zones is illustrated as being built up from rows of notched blocks, the construction of which will be presently explained in detail. An air riser 56 extends upwardly adjacent to the pair of heating walls. the said riser delivering air to aseries of burners or combustion points 57,for each heating wall through the connections 58, best shown in Figs. 3 and 5. A gas riser 59 extends upwardly adjacent to each pair of heating walls, and delivers gas to eaclrof the chambers 57 through a series of gas connections 60. Consequently, the combustion commences in the chambers 57 and the heating gases then travel sidewise towards the other side of the heating wall. A valve (31 is'mounted in each of the connections (30, so that the gas delivery to each one of the chambers 57 may be very nicely regulated according to the heating effect desired.

Adjacent to the other side of each pair of heating walls is a downcomer 62 for the delivery of spent gas to a pipe or tunnel 63 which extends along the length of the bench of ovens, and a damper or the like 64: may be provided for controllingthe delivery of spent gas from each of the connections 62 to the pipe. or tunnel 63. At the discharge side of each heatingwall there is a. series of chambers 65.- which chambers communicate with the downcomer 62 through the connections 66, so as to deliver the spent gas to the downcomer.

Manifestly by proportioning the heating structures in the different heating zones. and by properly regulating the *arious valves 61. the temperatures established in the dift'erent zones may be such as to cause a progressive rise of temperature as the material descends in the retort. If desired. the temperature may be substantially constant throughout each of the zones delimited by the partitions 53, 54:. and 55, or the temperatures may progressively increase from top to bottom of each of the so-called zones. This progressive increase in temperature may be accomplished. for example. by proper regulation of the valves (31. or by proportionin; the notched blocks in the original construction of the wall. The point is that the temperatures in the heating wall increase in the direction of travel of the mass, said travel, in the particular construction illustrated, being from top to bottom, although manifestly it might also be from side to side, or in any other desired direction.

Beneath the point all) the walls are shown as being recuperating walls adapted to preheat the air or any other constituent gas for combustion. The preheating is shown as being a ireheating ot the air, although this is done largely as a matter of convenience. The air comes in the first place from a pipe or tunnel 6?. Each heating wall below the point 4:9 or below the partition 55 is provided with a. series of nieshwork of impingement passages leading from the point (38 to the point (59, the air traveling across the wall beneath a partition TO. and then upwards and back above. the partition TI: to the point (59. At this point it enters the lower end of the riser so. lln this way the air is preheated by the use of heat which would otherwise be 'astcd in the hot coke or other inatcrial.

Referring; now to Figs. (5 to 11. inclusive llwill explain more in detail the particular term of notched block therein illustrated. The block is ot' substantially rectangular form its central side portions being cut away as shown at 71 and T94. lits corners are cut away asat lilfififi. and it}. The lower central portion 77 ot' the block depends below its end portions, so that the portions T? at each bloclt extend into the space between the notches 73 and 7a of the blocks of the next lower course, when the blocks of the various courses are so set as to break joints. Tn this way, the gases traveling along the wall are caused to deflect around the portions 77, so that it is impossible for the gases to travel straight across the wall and without being subjected to any impingement action. By the use of this arrangement, it is possible to cause the gases to travel in a zigzag manner with respect to the blocks, even when the gases are traveling parallel to the courses of blocks instead of transversely of said courses.

The end portions of the blocks are set together so as to completely enclose the zigzag impingement passages, in the manner shown particularly in Figs. 5 and 6. lVhile the blocks are shown as dove-tailing together, and also as key-stoning together, still it is evident that the end portions of the blocks may be of any suitable form according to the particular requirements of the case.

Reference particularly to Fig. 1 will disclose a pipe 78 connected into the chute 31 by way of a connection 79 havin a valve 80. The pipe 78 with the connection 49 and valve 80 provide means for introducing steam, oil or other material into the hot coke or carbonized mass descending through the chute 31. It is well understood that when steam, preferably in dry condition, is directed against a mass of red hot carbon, the steam will be broken up or decomposed with the liberation of hydrogen and the production of carbon monoxide. This process is known as a water-gas process. The reaction thus taking place results in a tremendous absorption of heat thereby tending to cool the coke. Inasmuch as the water-gas thus generated has a very much higher thermal value than the original coal or coke it follows that all or a portion of the heat of the red hot carbonized mass is transformed by a chemical reaction into a static or potential condition, the heat which would otherwise be wasted in the red hot colre or carbonized material being recovered in the term of gases which are potentially capable of giving otl, when burned, substantially all ot'the heat thus absorbed from the red hot colrc.

Consequently. when steam is introduced in the manner indicated from the pipe "(a not only is the colred or carbonized mass cooled which is in itself a very desirable result, but its heat which would otherwise be wasted is largely recovered in the manner indicated. Ur sometimes it may be desirable to inject oils through the pipe ill and connection T9, which oils. upon contact with the red hot mass. will be split or brolrcn up. thereby enriching the gas delivered from the bollizingg; chamber, and also resultin cooling of the carbonized material.

fore, this feature of my invention contemplates the introduction of liquid or fluid mate'rial into the carbonizing chamber at a point where a cooling of the carbonized material may be secured, to thereby cool said material, and in many cases recover all or a portion of the waste heat substantially as indicated.

\Vhere, in this specification and the claims to follow, I have spoken of the continuous process principle, or a continuous process retort, or have used the word continuous, it will be understood that I contemplate equally the use of the features of invention also in cases where the action is notstrictly continuous, but is of the semi-continuous type as distinguished from the so-called intermittent type.

\Vhile 'I have herein shown and described only a single form of construction embodying the features of my invention, still it will be understood that I am not limited to the same, except as I may limit myself in the claims.

I claim:

1. A continuous process vertical distillation retort comprising a pair of heating walls enclosing a. carbonizing chamber between them, said walls being closer together in their upper portions than in their lower portions to thereby provide a tapering width for said chamber, each heating wall comprising blocks laid up inhorizontal courses,

each block being recessed in its central por tions to provide a series of interconnected passages extending in zigzag fashion across the interior of the wall. means for isolating the passages so constituted from each other in horizontal zones extending across the wall. to thereby prevent intercommunication of heating gases between the pas- -sages of different zones. a plurality of fuel nozzles for delivering fuel gas into the heat- .ing passages at one edge of each wall. there being passages for the deli ery of air into the wall adjacent to said nozzles for combustion purposes. means for independently controllingthe supply of fuel to all of the nozzles. there being air passages in the lower portion of each wall, means for delivering fresh air into said passages for preheating purposes. and means for delivering heated air from said passages to the air connections ai'i-ircsaid. for preheating purposes substantially as descril'ied.

A continuous process vertical distillation retort comprising a pair of vertical heating walls sepa atcd from each other to provide a carbonizing chamber of desired width at each point. vertical end closures between the end portions of said walls. each heating wall having on its interior a plurality of groups of interconnected passages for heating gases extending across its portion in zigzag fashion from one edge of the wall to the other edge thereof, the passages of each set being sepal'ated from those of the other side to thereby provide distinct zones, means for delivering combustible mixture into the heating passages at one edge of each zone, means for controlling the rate of admission of such mixture into each zone independently of the other zones, there being a plurality of preheating passages in the lower portion of each heating wall, means for delivering combustible constituent thereinto for preheating purposes, preheated constituent from such passages to the aforementioned combustible mixture delivering means, means for delivering substantially as described.

3. A continuous process vertical distillation retort comprising a pair of vertical heating walls separated at all points a distance from each other according to the desired width of the carbonizing chamber, there being on the interior of each heating wall a series of interconnected passages for heating gases extending across the wall in zigzag fashion from one edge thereof to the other edge in substantially horizontal direction, and means for delivering the com-. bustible mixture into said passages at one edge of each wall, and at all points under the control of the operator, substantially as described.

4. A continuous process, vertical distillation retort comprising a pair of vertical heating walls, there being on theinterior of each heating wall a series of interconnected passages extending across the wall in zig .zag fashion from one edge thereof to the other edge in substantially horizontal direction, means for delivering combustible mixture into said passages at one edge of each wall, means for delivering carbonaceous material into the upper portion of the chamber, means for withdrawing carbonized material from the lower portion of the chamber, and means for delivering distillate gas from the upper portion of the chamber, substantially as described.

5. A continuous process vertical distillation retort comprising a pair of vertical heating walls, there being on the interior of each heating wall a series of interconnected passages extending across the wall in zig-zag fashion from one edge thereof to the other edge in substantially horizontal direction, and means for delivering combustible mixture into said passages at one. edge of the wall, substantially as described.

6. A continuous process vertical distillation retort comprising a pair of vertical heating walls, there being on the interior of each heating wall a series of interconnected passages extending across the wall in zigzag fashion in a substantially horizontal diration, and means for delivering combustible mixture into said passages at one edge of the wall, substantially as described.

7. ln a vertical distillation retort the combination of vertical heating walls, each having on its interior a series of interconnected passages extending across the wall in zigzag fashion in a substantially horizontal clii'ection, and means for delivering COIDbUS- tible mixture into said passages at one s1de 10 of the Wall, substantially as described.

ARTE UR ROBERTS.

l l itnesses:

THOMAS A. BANNING, Jn, EPHRAIM BANNING. 

